So you've all but given up on the idea of going on vacation this summer.
Higher food and energy costs have drained your budget, gas is a fortune, and those credit card balances are already big enough. And forget flying to Europe, where the weakening dollar has made Americans feel like the poor relations. In fact, forget flying period; fares are rising, security lines are growing and airlines keep tacking fees on everything from extra bags to extra legroom.
The stress of it all is enough to keep anyone home. And that's just where more and more people are expected to go for "staycation," - a vacation spent in your own backyard, literally, or nearby. About a third of the state's tourists are Maryland residents, and officials expect that percentage to grow. Already, the state parks have seen a surge in camping, a likely result of travelers' curtailing plans.
"Most Americans feel that a vacation is their right," said Margot A. Amelia, executive director of the Maryland Office of Tourism Development. "I think people's pocketbooks are a little pinched, and they will go closer to home this year."
Several trends have converged to make the "staycation" the hottest new destination, said Lois Backon, vice president of the New York-based Families and Work Institute.
"People are realizing there's no place like home," Backon said. "They're starting to really read the local Chamber of Commerce promotions on what to do in their area and trying to find day trips. It's almost more relaxing than planning a big overwhelming trip and the expense associated with that."
And one workplace expert has suggested that shorter vacations closer to home could save your job. Workers concerned about job stability are likely to ask for fewer days off and to promise to check e-mails and take work calls, said John A. Challenger, chief executive officer of outplacement consultant Challenger, Gray & Christmas Inc. Challenger's advice: Head to a nearby national park with a picnic lunch - on a Saturday - to get refreshed for work on Monday.
Fundamental to the idea of a staycation is having fun. It's not the same as taking a week off to caulk the bathroom, clean out the garage or paint.
Baltimore-area residents can stay close to home, saving on transportation and lodging costs, and still swim at a beach or lake, go camping, boating or hiking, visit museums and other cultural attractions, take tours, explore unfamiliar towns, try new restaurants.
